James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Minister, recently a US congressman from the US House Committee on Energy and Commerce called on the government to rethink its opposition to new energy, with Congressman Neal Dunn saying:

… 'Why isn't Australia with us on this?' There are a lot of commercial opportunities. You have got the uranium ore, you have got the skills, all you lack is the will.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom said in March that nuclear delivers cheaper, cleaner, cheaper, homegrown energy for consumers. How do you explain the government's ideological opposition to this technology when Australia's allies are looking to implement all options in the path to net zero?

Government Senators:

Government senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm waiting for order on my right. Order! Senator McGrath, you've asked your question. Minister Wong.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is so funny. After they've had most of the week, when they haven't dared to defend their nuclear policy, we now have the last question, from Senator McGrath, about why we're not going down the nuclear path. Put very simply, Senator McGrath: we don't think $600 billion-plus paid by taxpayers for the most expensive power you can buy, delivered in 20 years, with no plan to do anything about supply until then, is a good deal. Funny about that, isn't it? We don't think that that kind of political strategy that the wheels are already falling off of is a good deal for Australians. That's why we are not going down the nuclear path.

It is quite extraordinary, isn't it colleagues—the extent to which Mr Dutton's antirenewables obsession can lead them into this cul-de-sac, can lead them into this dead end of a policy that they know is a joke. That's why the best they can do when they are asked how much it will cost is say, 'It's a big bill.' That's it! It is extraordinary. Here we are needing to transition the Australian economy and 24 out of 28 coal-fired power stations are announcing their closure on the news and the most they can do is come up with a policy that is going to deliver a 'big bill', two decades of diminishing supply and the most expensive power there is. You couldn't make this stuff up, could you? (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McGrath, a first supplementary?

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, Chris Bowen was recently corrected by Canadian officials for falsely claiming that energy bills in Ontario were cheap due to provincial government subsidies. Why does this government continue to misrepresent the ways in which other countries are using nuclear power to lower energy bills and decarbonise?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What I would say again is that, if you really want to understand what's going on with this nuclear announcement, you only have to look at the last decade and a half of division in the coalition when it came to energy policy. They had in excess of 20 policies, while coal-fired power station after coal-fired power station—

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, I have a point of order on relevance. My question went to Chris Bowen and Canada. It did not reference anything to do with the coalition. So, while the minister flicks through the answers, if could you ask her to wander back towards the question that would be great, please.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do think the minister was being relevant, but I will continue to listen carefully and, if need be, I will draw her back to the question.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If you really want to understand why the coalition have gone for this political strategy, it is the decade and a half with in excess of 20 policies because they couldn't bring themselves to support renewables. They couldn't bring themselves to support renewables. It is all about the internals of their party room.

I would also make the point that this has also been a change of position for Mr Dutton, because he has worked out that nuclear is the only thing that holds his party room together. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Sorry, Senator McGrath. I would have drawn the minister back to the question, but the time has expired. I will invite you to ask your second supplementary.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The UK Labour Party's 2024 election manifesto states:

We will ensure the long-term security of the—

nuclear—

sector, extending the lifetime of existing plants … New nuclear power stations … will play an important role in helping the UK achieve energy security and clean power while securing thousands of good, skilled jobs.

What does the UK Labour Party not understand about nuclear power that the Australian Labor Party does?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We obviously have a very deep and important relationship with the United Kingdom, but I think even they would recognise that we might get a bit more sun here. I reckon even they might recognise we have a bit more land here. I think even they would recognise that we might have the ability to look to renewables that are more challenging for them.

I want to say this to those opposite: if this is so great, why have we seen so many state Liberals refuse to back you in? Why have we seen Mr Speakman—I didn't know who he was; I now know who he is—say, 'We can't wait for nuclear'?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Wong, please resume your seat.

Senator Birmingham, order! Senator Birmingham, there are 13 seconds remaining and you are on your feet.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am on my feet, with a point of order on relevance. The point of order on relevance is: why is it that Senator Wong doesn't want to talk about the UK Labour Party and their strong, clear endorsement in relation to nuclear energy?

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Birmingham, that is a debating point. Senator Watt?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the point of order: it's highly relevant for Senator Wong to be addressing the question asked by the opposition and providing the further detail that they were seeking, so I ask you to rule against the point of order.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There was so much noise in the chamber. I did dismiss the point raised by Senator Birmingham, because it is a debating point.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm very happy. I wasn't trying to be gratuitous; I genuinely did not know who the person was. He said we can't wait for nuclear. John Pesutto has made his view clear. He said, 'I'm not raising down the nuclear path.' Peter Walsh has made the same point.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The time for answering has expired.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.